CITES IMPLEMENTATION DEPARTMENT

Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) more than 180 nations regulate international trade in certain species of wildlife to prevent the decline of species threatened (listed in Appendix I of CITES) or potentially threatened (listed in Appendix II) with extinction.

Trade, which is defined as import, export, or re-export, of a long list of such threatened animal and plant species, is either virtually prohibited (Appendix I species) or restricted (Appendix II or III species)

Kenya is a signatory State to the CITES Convention and the Government has designated Kenya Wildlife Service, the CITES Management Authority and CITES Scientific Authority of the country for purposes of implementation of the Convention. Kenya Wildlife Service has established a fully fledged department; CITES Implementation Department within the Species Conservation and Management Division to coordinate CITES implementation activities in the country.

Specific functions of the Department are as follows:

Serve as Depository for CITES information and focal point for communication